Jim McGuinness has described Paddy McBrearty’s injury blow as “devastating” for the 24-year-old.

McBrearty has been in career best form in 2018 but was forced out of Sunday’s runaway Ulster final win over Fermanagh with an injury which it emerged yesterday is a cruciate ligament tear, ending the Kilcar forward’s season.

McGuinness, who was Donegal boss when McBrearty made his debut as a 17-year-old in 2011, said: “It’s a massive blow, it’s really a massive blow, a massive blow for Patrick obviously, his family, his club, the county, the supporters of Donegal.

“It’s just not the story people wanted to be waking up to this morning in Donegal on the back of what has been an incredible season so far, this fusion of young talent, there’s an energy, skill, quality going forward, so it is devastating for him.

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“He’s just a really quiet young fella that loves Gaelic football, and now he’s going to be sidelined from his own sport, that’s going to be very tough on him.

Jim McGuinness will join the Sky Sports analysis team for this weekend’s games between Cavan vs Tyrone and Kildare vs Mayo live on streaming service NOW TV and Sky Sports Arena. (Image: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile)

“We just hope he gets the best surgeon possible to work with him, to do the best job possible with him and get him back as quickly as possible.

“He’s 24, he’ll be 25 in August, he’s in his peak, there’s no doubt he was one of the best forwards in the country this season, he would have been an All Star for me, nailed on, maybe he still will be. It’s a big blow, a huge blow.”

As for how damaging it is to Donegal’s prospects, McGuinness added: “I still feel the energy they’ve created is there, they’ve embraced the championship, the younger guys have that medal in their pocket and they’ve experienced what it’s like to win an Ulster Championship and I think that will stand them in good stead.

“Obviously you’d want everybody available going in to play Dublin in Croke Park and that’s not going to be the case now.

“I think this is how Patrick reacts to this, and then as a result how the players react to this and then can you galvanise and just go for it, you know.”

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